Scared of going to Paris Alone

[Aquarius1234]

I have booked a short trip to Paris for two nights, to go to the French Open Tennis for one day.
There is no one close to me that likes Tennis enough to join me, so I randomly booked solo and a single ticket.
But now I am worried about going there alone. Unable to get refunds.

I can understand the idea of a traditional formal Parisan restaurant is not appealing whwn you are alone. However Paris has a lot of informal cafes and bistros as well as wider dining options.

I moved to Paris alone when I was 20 for an internship. It’s a really easy city to navigate. What specifically makes you think it’s going to be ‘hard work’, over and above any other city?

I've travelled solo for business for decades. I always take a book or magazine with me to the restaurant. No one has ever batted an eyelid. I've never been chatted up either. You see all these films about women being approached in bars or hotels by other business men, or being bought a drink or something. Never happened once! People just leave you alone in the evening. I'm more likely to have some friendly chat at the breakfast table in the hotel with other guests.

Don't do that either 🙈 You really don't need to at all. It's all easy to understand and you can use your phone to translate anything you font understand. Just go to the nearest cafe/bistro/restaurant. I lived in Paris a couple of years ago and ate out all the time and never found bad food.

Might be useful for OP though if she is particularly anxious

I go alone all the time. I even spent Christmas there and it was brilliant. There were four tables in a row of lone women! I recommend the Bouillon restaurants, cheap French classics and a good atmosphere

I am going to Paris alone tomorrow! I travel for work alone quite often. If anyone reading this is in Paris tomorrow evening and looking for a dinner companion then message me!!

You'll be fine! I lived in Paris in my 20s and always felt safe going about on my own. I also traveled there alone for work 3/4 times a year and never felt particularly threatened. Of course like any big city you need to remain vigilant, avoid dodgy areas etc. Where are you planning on staying? The transport in Paris is great so you'll find getting around pretty easy.

I thought Paris was harder to get around compared to central London.
West Paris Boulogne-Billancourt. Im sure I can find a Cafe for late breakfast.

I can't think of much nicer than a couple of days alone in Paris! You'll have a great time OP. Plan some things to do/see as well as the tennis. Research nice places to eat. Getting around is really easy on the metro. Enjoy!

Turns out now I wont have much time, maybe should have booked another night. Ah well.
3 nights for another place in the future maybe!

I was in Paris in February for a work do. I walked from Gare du Nord to the hotel (half an hour) and had a long walk one evening by the river. Absolutely no issues… and gare du nord is not v nice. Lone female with a wheely case. I find the metro /RER more confusing and smelly than London but it’s functional. Relax and enjoy!

Did you walk to avoid the metro? Or taxi

Card and Cash ok?

99% of places will take card. I only came across one place that didn't in my last few trips, and that's because their machine was broken.

I think you worry too much. I go to Paris (Eurostar) every month for work and also 3/4 weekends per year, on my own, shopping / culture trip. Never had any issues with transport (metro), cards, food, etc. It’s the First World, anyway.
well, I’ve had issues with cyclists, many more than in London and sometimes riding wild at night.

You will be fine. Lots of tennis fans will be leaving Roland Garros at the same time once the matches are over and will quite likely be heading in the same direction or even to same hotel as you.
I went to Paris a couple of years ago for 4 days with my children and felt perfectly safe.

You need to stop this mindset otherwise you're going to really work yourself up. I used to travel every day on the metro. There's nothing to be avoided. It's absolutely fine. No one is walking around paris to avoid the metro. Taxis are fine too but can take forever to get anywhere cos it's so busy.

I walked to get some fresh air after a delayed Eurostar, and to see a bit of Paris en route to the conference hotel. On the way back I got the metro as timings more predictable and quicker than taxi!

I agree. Former Paris resident here. The only downside of the Metro is the smell of old socks!

@Aquarius1234 I'm not sure what you are worried about so it's hard to comment.

I did a day trip to the French Open once. That was fine (and unforgettable). easy to get to from the metro station. Lots of tennis going crowds all walking in the same direction. Not much shade so go prepared. At no point did I feel unsafe in the area near the French Open because there were so many people around - really didn't occur to me.

Eurostar - I'd arrive 90 mins before in case queues are massive. it reduces stress. There is a cafe past security if you are tight for time.

I don't think you've mentioned where your accommodation is (or if you've booked it) but some areas are not so great - this is the one thing I'd plan the area carefully.

Food - loads of bistros everywhere which are usually tasty and well priced; plenty around the main train stations (for example). I can't see that being a problem to get a table for one. Get breakfast and possibly sandwich lunch from a bakery.

I presume the people that live Paris cope

It’s more ‘old socks and a hint of sewage’.😀

OP, you seem to be building the Métro into some kind of demon to be avoided. Do you use the tube if you’re in London? It’s exactly the same level of ‘peril’, and actually easier to navigate as a tourist if anything — as all lines are numbered, and signposted with the end of the line stations at both ends (no need remember a name for a tube line or whether you’re going north, east etc)., so you’ll be taking line 10 in the direction of Boulogne Pont de Saint Cloud and getting out at the Porte d’Auteuil stop.

I’ve been recently with my DD. I was nervous as first trip without DH or friends in years. It was so easy. We arrived at 8pm on Eurostar and found the metro easily, it felt very safe. DD navigated round with a Dorling Kindersley Top 10 Paris book and pull out map. Everything felt walkable but we did get the metro a couple of times and it was fine.

I think a really key thing to feel safe as a solo traveller is booking a hotel in a safe neighbourhood that gets good reviews. Once you are there, the hotel staff can help with recommendations for transport, eating out etc. I chose a hotel over air bnb for that reason, also because I’ve had some iffy air bnb check ins from time to time and I didn’t want to risk arriving and not being able to get in.

I did split cards up and keep passports in hotel safe and had travel passes saved to both of our phones just in case one of us lost a phone/bag or had one stolen but it was fine. We weren’t hassled anywhere.

The little bistros are great for dinner, we enjoyed eating out in the ones in the quieter neighbourhood we were staying in. The one day we ate out by the Seine we had rude service from waiter and not great pizza but what do you expect from a tourist hotspot.

I researched places to eat in advance for evenings on Google maps to check for good reviews and saved them, meant I could do that at my leisure and have a few options up my sleeve, that helped me feel organised and calm.

Sometimes if I am anxious it helps me to write in my notes app on my phone an outline plan for the day with lunch / cafe / dinner options and transport details. Not very spontaneous but it keeps me calm and I quite enjoy planning trips anyway! Maybe it would help you?

Enjoy, it’s such a beautiful city!

Stage 1, I am on the Eurostar.
Engineering works on the trains today, made the journey twice as long.
I'll post again once I manage to check into the hotel. Fingers crossed.